Instrument to check electrical current

[dano]

I went to a couple of hardware stores to find an instrument that I could submerse a probe in my tank and it would tell me if any of my pumps/power heads were emitting electrical currents. Some of my power heads are older and I have gotten a shock in the past. I have a ground wire in the tank but want to throw out any hardware which is dangerous. Anyways, none of the people I spoke to knew of such an instrument. I'm sure there is such a think that probably is not too expensive. Thanks

[Chad]

You are actually looking for stray voltage, not current. A voltmeter or multimeter is what you are looking for. I would find one with a digital readout, they have two probes, a red and black one. Stick the black one in the ground terminal of an outlet in your home and the positive in the tank water. This will give you the potential (voltage) in your tank.

[dbartco]

You are actually looking for stray voltage, not current. A voltmeter or multimeter is what you are looking for. I would find one with a digital readout, they have two probes, a red and black one. Stick the black one in the ground terminal of an outlet in your home and the positive in the tank water. This will give you the potential (voltage) in your tank.

 

and take the ground probe out beforehand...

[Coral Hind]

You are actually looking for stray voltage, not current. A voltmeter or multimeter is what you are looking for. I would find one with a digital readout, they have two probes, a red and black one. Stick the black one in the ground terminal of an outlet in your home and the positive in the tank water. This will give you the potential (voltage) in your tank.

 

Using a voltmeter as Chad described is the easiest way. With the voltage you would also have some amperage that can be measured. You would use an ampmeter on the ground probe wire and get a true amp reading of what is leaking to ground.

 

Please make sure all your pumps and heaters are on a GFCI. Splitting them up on two seperate GFCIs is best.

[paul b]

You can get a cheap one for $14.00

[dano]

Thank you all.

[Coral Hind]

Dan, I have a clamp on multimeter you can borrow if you want to pick it up.

[Coral Hind]

Did you ever find the problem?